1989-91 R/V3500 Series

[V30 mongo]

My little ditty about "work trucks" has made points about Ford and Dodge as being built for heavy use. This is a forum on Chevy/Gmc trucks. True, the newer model trucks will carry more and pull larger trailers than there older counterparts, but that is all they will do. Wrecker trucks, dump tucks, salt spreaders, etc. all require one thing to operate at capacity properly, a power take off. This device, attached to transmission or transfer case must be able to supply at least 25 horse power to operate attached equipment. All newer trucks do not have PTO capabilities on ther 4x4 transfer cases and only some automatic transmissions will accept a PTO unit and then only a special "hot shift" type that is only capable to run a hydraulic pump that will supply only about 10 GPH. They will not take the mechanical shift type PTO units and reversable PTO's are impossible. This will run a small dump body, but to use it for a wrecker or salt spreader, it will not operate it at any speed to be usefull. Also, the rear frames on most of the newer trucks is nice and flat and this is good for the mounting of vocational bodies, but the location of fuel tanks and exhaust systems make it a nightmare to fit PTO drive shafts and there driven equipment. There is a lot more to just how much a truck will carry or pull to make it a true "work truck".